Recycling is one of the easiest ways we can reduce landfill waste and protect our environment, but only when the right materials go into the green recycling cart. Unfortunately, recycling contamination has become a growing challenge across Houston. Contamination occurs when non-recyclable or improperly prepared items are mixed with recyclable materials, reducing the value of those materials and making them more difficult, and sometimes impossible, to process.

Today, Houston’s recycling contamination rate exceeds 42%, nearly double the national average of 15 to 25%. That contamination comes at a significant cost. Extra sorting, equipment repairs, disposal of contaminated materials, and lost revenue from unrecyclable loads resulted in nearly $2.5 million in additional costs and lost revenue in 2025 for the City’s recycling processor.

Beyond the financial impact, contamination also creates safety hazards. Items like hoses, extension cords, ropes, textiles, and other “tanglers” become wrapped around sorting equipment, forcing workers to stop operations to remove them by hand. Every shutdown increases operating costs and exposes employees to additional safety risks. Even more concerning, improperly discarded lithium batteries can spark fires capable of shutting down an entire recycling facility for days.

If you recycle regularly, please take a few extra seconds before placing something in the recycling cart. Those small decisions help protect our environment, improve worker safety, and keep recycling costs down for everyone.

Recycle These Items

✔ Paper, newspapers, magazines, and mail

✔ Flattened cardboard boxes

✔ Aluminum and steel cans (empty and rinsed)

✔ Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1 through #5 and #7), emptied and rinsed

✔ Glass bottles and jars

✔ Food and beverage cartons

Keep These Out of Your Recycling Cart

❌ Plastic bags and bagged recyclables

❌ Garden hoses, extension cords, ropes, chains, and string lights (“tanglers”)

❌ Styrofoam and other non-accepted plastics

❌ Electronics, batteries, chemicals, and syringes

❌ Clothing, textiles, and toys

❌ Food waste, greasy pizza boxes, and containers with food or liquid inside

Remember these three simple rules:

• Empty it. Remove all food and liquid.
• Rinse it. A quick rinse helps prevent contamination.
• Keep it loose. Never bag your recyclables before placing them in the green cart.

Every clean recycling cart helps reduce contamination, lowers processing costs, and ensures more recyclable materials are turned into new products instead of ending up in a landfill. Thank you for doing your part to keep District E clean, sustainable, and a leader in responsible recycling.